Waitomo Glow Worm Cave & Ruakuri Cave, Waitomo

Introduction

This is a guided walk that leads visitors through the amazing Cathedral Cave, whose high ceilings and limestone walls provide excellent acoustics.

However, that isn’t the only thing to be discovered inside. Boarding a small boat which is towed across the water, you will gaze up into the gloom of the cave to view hundreds of iridescent lights that glow on the ceiling above. One of New Zealand’s most intriguing animals, the glow worms native to these islands let out a small light in the cave’s gloom in order to attract prey. And after a visit here, you can certainly understand why they find these intriguing lights so attractive!

Your next stop is the spectacular Ruakuri Cave, whose sheer size and natural features make this one of the most incredible entrances to the underground world. Heading into this darkened universe, you will see underground streams, fossilised scallop shells and historical Maori sites. Narrow winding corridors, hidden waterfalls, ancient fossils and amazing cave decorations all wait within to be discovered.

Laced with myth and legend, Ruakuri, or “den of dogs”, was first discovered by Maori some 400-500 years ago and is an even more fascinating site today.

Qualmark endorsed visitor activity 

Duration: 3 hours
Price: from £54 per person
Departures: variable – first departure at 09:00